Someday, it'll all make sense.

After slipping into a pretty regular running schedule over the last few months, I've experienced a lot of frustration as a recent back injury slowed me down and regressed my progress. I would go half my usual distance before a sharp pulsing pain cut into my spine. I gave it a few days and though the pain had eased, it was still present and the regression it has caused was highly un-motivating. I cursed this pain and wondered why things that hinder the plans we make for ourselves find it okay to make themselves so comfortable in our lives. It wasn't until a few days ago that I realized running more upright caused the pain to vanish. The annoying back pain that I cursed actually began to act as a cue that I wasn't running with good posture. So as this back pain acted as negative reinforcement and corrected my form, I noticed that running essentially became easier.

This principle, I've noticed, has become increasingly applicable to many aspects of my life. I make plans for the future--I think I know what I want and what will be best. God seems to have a funny way of putting roadblocks in the way of those plans that we often fight and question. However, if we can muster up the patience, we are blessed with experiences that unveil an ultimately positive reason for our struggles.


Cause the pain that you've been feeling
It's just the dark before the morning.
{Appropriate lyrics from Josh Wilson's song, "Before the Morning"}

Someday, I'll be graceful {part 3}.

First of all, the prodigal blogger returns! Summer hasn't exactly made me lazy, it's just changed my priorities I guess. Dog sitting, nannying, starting a new job, and breathing have kind of trumped blogging but I'm determined to get back at it...

In other news...yes, I have the ability to compose a third post on the subject of the clumsy accounts of Brittany Alexandra Hallin. This one's a doozy. It all started with an unfortunate spillage of au jus back in the kitchen of my workplace where I waitress. Upon getting slammed with more tables than my rookie, unexperienced waitress abilities could handle, fate graced me with an unfortunate step in this greasy puddle.

Well one thing led to another and before I knew it I was bum down and feet up with broken glass in my leg and a bruise on my tailbone. I am not sure what hurt more...my pride or my back. Well now, I'd say it's my back.

Someday, we'll take the advice we're given.

A wise man {AKA this really cool friend I have} once said, "a person doesn't know what he or she wants until he or she is twenty-three--with few exceptions." These words consoled me for I still have no idea what in the world I want out of this life. I am only eighteen, but at the pace life seems to be accelerating at, I am at times afraid to blink because I fear I'll miss something.
And I have goals. Big goals. Little goals. Medium sized goals. I have LOTS of goals. But goals are just specific aims and desires--do they really define what one wants out of life? Okay, well before I go all deep and philosophical on you, I'll stop there and try to get back to living my life, I guess... Because this friend also told me to be patient and not stress about the future, for it seems that it's when we stop looking for the things we want out of life, they tend to seek us out on their own.

Funny thing too, about advice...why does it seem that we only acknowledge the advice we're given until after we should have applied it?

Someday, I'll be graceful. {part 2}

For those of you familiar with my ongoing disagreement with gravity, inability to consume food without choking, and innate urge to make abnormal faces upon greeting people, you will not be surprised that this week fails to disappoint when it comes to not-so-graceful mishaps...

So let's see...

1. Upon handing my salad ticket to the cashier at Dux Bistro {on-campus dining location} I managed to clumsily empty the entire contents of my salad bowl onto the counter. Not to place blame, {eh-hem cashier *cough* *cough* may have nudged my salad causing the leafy greens to plummet out of my grasp *cough* cough*} I do not find the fault to be my own, however it most definitely appeared to be as such. Between the deer-in-the-headlights expression of the cashier along with a peeved group of students building up behind me in line, I swiftly scooped the contents of my now "extra tossed," "counter-seasoned" dinner back into my bowl. Yum.

2. I'll spare the details of this next one because I think I've over-shared my bloody-knee firefighter story with anyone who will listen--granted it was hilarious & oh so unusal--but anyway it was another disagreement with gravity that left me in a frazzled, wounded state only to be doted on by a {medically certified ;)} firefighter.

3. On a run, I spotted a friend. Naturally, I sprinted over in her direction yelling her name. I'm not sure if it was the confused expression or her hysterically laughing friend that led me to believe it was NOT who I thought it was. Need to remember to wear my contacts...I just may be getting a reputation as "that girl who randomly waves and people and calls them by random names." Sweet.

Well I guess that's only three offenses this week--but then again, the week's not over. And those first two were kind of doozies...

Goal for this summer: develop some sort of defense against nature's unexplainable desire to brand me as a klutz.

Someday, they'll actually travel.

Sisterhood of the traveling pants overalls.

Yes, that's two girls.
In one pair of
overalls.

Summer 2011: A spontaneous trip to the Wilsonville Goodwill with some friends, along with some good old fashioned fate, led to the discovery of these beauties. Inspired by the film & book Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants {see below trailer if unfamiliar with the concept}, we decided this denim creation would keep us united as well all departed in the fall for our freshman years of college. 

A set of rules {I cannot share because of the sworn secrecy of the sisterhood} were set forth, a journal to log our college experiences and share amongst one another was composed, and the sisterhood was born.

These classy, {Whinny the Pooh} embroidered trousers ended up only making a total of ONE round trip--but hey, that's six sisters & five schools across three states! 

So maybe the overalls didn't fit us all...but they did fit all of us inside of them at once.

Gret, Cat, Bo, Jess, & Nat {however, I do see you everyday}, I'll see ya'll in less than a week!

Someday, I'll reside seaside.

Something about the ocean is so alluring. Anyone who's every been to any coastal town {notice usage of word "coastal" not "beach"--we live in Oregon...not Cali} can identify that calm aura that seems to settle in along with the sea's mist. Hustling and bustling fail to disturb this signature tranquility of the Oregon coast. I've always thought that at some point in my life, it'd be nice to call a beach or coast home--even if it's not until retirement {yes, I'm thinking that far ahead}.

 Memorial day weekend getaway to Newport with some good ol' friends.

I'd say we came home with some priceless memories.

jetty~rooftops~clamming~taffy~cranky neighbors~spaghetti~"yolo"

Someday, I'll take notes.

But I guess I'm a just a doodler at heart! You can thank the monotone nature of professors and the luxury of having lecture notes posted on blackboard for these random little scribbles...